NameCensus.

UK surname

Iqbal

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "fortune" or "prosperity," most commonly found in Pakistan and other Muslim countries.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Iqbal is 17,749 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

17,679

2016, ranked #346

Peak year

2013

17,749 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 17,679 in 2016, ranked #346.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Iqbal surname distribution map

The map shows where the Iqbal surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Iqbal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Iqbal over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1997 modern 7,404 #869
1998 modern 8,453 #783
1999 modern 9,062 #728
2000 modern 9,524 #689
2001 modern 9,490 #672
2002 modern 10,931 #587
2003 modern 11,637 #536
2004 modern 12,313 #507
2005 modern 13,101 #464
2006 modern 13,975 #432
2007 modern 14,922 #410
2008 modern 15,580 #392
2009 modern 16,600 #373
2010 modern 17,441 #360
2011 modern 17,519 #351
2012 modern 17,256 #349
2013 modern 17,749 #347
2014 modern 17,747 #351
2015 modern 17,617 #351
2016 modern 17,679 #346

Geography

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Where Iqbals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldham and Bradford. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldham 022 Oldham
2 Bradford 044 Bradford
3 Bradford 033 Bradford
4 Bradford 042 Bradford
5 Oldham 035 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Iqbal

These lists show first names that appear often with the Iqbal surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Iqbal

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Iqbal, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Iqbal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Iqbal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Iqbal is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Iqbal is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Iqbal falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Iqbal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Iqbal, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Iqbal

The surname IQBAL has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the regions that are now part of modern-day Pakistan and India. It is derived from the Arabic word "iqbal," which means "prosperity" or "good fortune."

IQBAL is believed to have emerged as a surname during the Mughal Empire in the 16th-17th century CE. The Mughals, who were of Turkic-Mongol descent, ruled over a vast territory in the Indian subcontinent and brought with them a rich cultural and linguistic heritage, including the Arabic and Persian languages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname IQBAL can be found in the works of the renowned Sufi poet and philosopher, Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938). Born in Sialkot, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Iqbal is widely regarded as the "Spiritual Father of Pakistan" and played a pivotal role in the movement for the creation of a separate Muslim state.

Another prominent figure bearing the surname IQBAL was Javaid Iqbal (1924-2015), a Pakistani jurist and legal scholar who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from 1980 to 1989.

In India, the name IQBAL has been associated with several notable individuals, such as Shaista Suhrawardy Iqbal (1919-2000), an Indian politician and diplomat who served as the first female High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.

The surname IQBAL has also been linked to several place names in the Indian subcontinent. For instance, Iqbalpur, a town in the Basti district of Uttar Pradesh, India, is believed to be named after a local landowner with the surname IQBAL.

Over the centuries, various spelling variations of the surname IQBAL have emerged, including Iqbal, Ikbal, and Iqbaal. These variations can be attributed to regional linguistic differences and the influence of other languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent.

While the surname IQBAL has its roots in the Muslim community of South Asia, it has gained recognition and prominence across various regions and cultures around the world, reflecting the rich diversity and historical significance of this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Iqbal surname: questions and answers

How common is the Iqbal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 17,679 in 2016. That gives Iqbal a modern rank of #346.

What does the Iqbal surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "fortune" or "prosperity," most commonly found in Pakistan and other Muslim countries.

What does the Iqbal map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Iqbal bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.